What Happens When Mental Health and Addiction Are Not Treated Together?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as many as one in four people experience co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD). Also called a dual diagnosis, when an individual has both, treating each condition separately can lead to less effective outcomes and make recovery much more difficult.

Why are mental health and addiction linked? For many people, accessing mental health care is difficult, which leads them down a path of self-medicating in order to feel better and function. On the other side, people with substance use struggles often develop difficulties in mental health. Both substance use and mental illness can exacerbate symptoms, leading to a decline in quality of life that makes it difficult to recover without the help of medical and mental health professionals.

Dual-diagnosis treatment takes an evidence-based approach to treating both issues, the substance abuse issue and the mental health condition, in order to improve overall well-being and assist in short- and long-term recovery.

What is Dual-Diagnosis Treatment?

Dual-diagnosis treatment is a treatment program that focuses on an individual’s mental health condition and substance use disorder at the same time, because treating one condition without also treating the other often leads to relapse.

It often includes medical care (including care for detoxification and withdrawal symptoms), mental health treatment, medication, therapy (individual, group and family), education, training in coping skills, skill-building around self-care and more.

A treatment plan for someone with a co-occurring disorder, who has major depression, might include medication for their depression and anxiety disorder, plus therapy to notice and better understand their thoughts, feelings, and triggers. Treatment could also include learning and performing self-care practices to reduce stress and cravings, like regular exercise, meditation and yoga. Medication-assisted treatment could also be used to help with the cravings from drug use.

Dual-diagnosis treatment can be inpatient or outpatient, depending on the treatment facility and an individual’s needs. Regardless of how intensive the treatment is, the interconnected nature of substance use and mental health is explored and treated.

Why is Dual-Diagnosis Treatment So Important?

With 84.5 million adults in the United States experiencing mental illness, substance use disorder, or both (according to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health) — that’s a lot of people in need of dual-diagnosis treatment or dealing with illnesses that could morph into co-morbidity.

Interdependency

When drug abuse and serious mental illness co-occur, they form a complex and interdependent web that alters and affects everything about a person, from the way their brain functions to how they interact with family members, co-workers and friends. This interdependency is central to the treatment options available at a good dual diagnosis program.

Treating either condition in a vacuum is basically like cutting just the tree branches while leaving the roots intact. The branches — and condition — will come back. Only addressing the interdependency can provide the basis for real change and health.

Relapse Prevention

Relapse is a common occurrence among people with substance or alcohol use disorder (AUD). Part of the reason relapse happens is because underlying mental health conditions — and the difficult situations they create for individuals suffering from them — are left unaddressed.

To prevent relapse, individuals with AUD and SUD also need to receive treatment for any underlying and co-occurring mental health disorders.

Full Healing

It’s impossible to achieve full healing if a person who has more than one condition is only treated for one. Dual-diagnosis treatment aims at full healing and recovery. By addressing everything that a person experiences ( such as living with borderline personality disorder and drug addiction), individuals can receive the support and education they need to regain health and succeed in their recovery journey.

Integrated Treatment

For people with co-occurring disorders, integrated treatment is essential. Since neither condition occurs on its own (regardless of which one came “first”), treating both at the same time will yield more effective substance abuse treatment and more effective mental health treatment.

What Happens When Mental Health and Addiction Are Treated Separately?

Treating mental health issues and addiction issues separately can cause a lot of headaches and heartache. In addition to being much less effective, here are some of the other problems that can arise from a lack of integrated care:

The Benefits of An Integrated Approach: How Dual-Diagnosis Treatment Works

The benefits of receiving care at an addiction treatment program that also offers dual-diagnosis treatment are many. Besides the fact that an integrated approach is evidence-based and works, there is a range of other advantages you or your loved one will also experience.

Holistic Care

Holistic care takes into account the entire person: their physical, mental, spiritual, and social selves. Holistic care honors the fullness of a person’s experiences and realities and works to address the problems that are disrupting the fullness of their life and health. Medical needs, mental health needs, familial dynamics and other concerns are taken just as seriously as the person’s drug or alcohol abuse.

Coordinated Care Teams

In a dual-diagnosis treatment center, you’ll experience coordination between care teams so that all aspects of your care are considered at all times. You won’t have to worry about negative drug interactions or improper scheduling for treatments or therapy, because everyone involved in your treatment plan works together.

Focus on Root Causes

For many people working through mental health issues and drug or alcohol addiction, childhood trauma resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other root causes have been covered up or ignored. With an integrated approach, treatment can finally focus on these root causes and their serious mental health manifestations, like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

This ensures not only that these mental health concerns are addressed and treated but that the accompanying substance use is also managed, leading to a happier, more fulfilling life.

Ongoing Monitoring

Integrated treatment also includes ongoing monitoring and aftercare. Whether you or your loved one will need ongoing medication for mental illness or substance use disorder, or support groups and other meetings to maintain health and sobriety, dual-diagnosis treatment programs offer assistance and programming even after the initial treatment program has ended.

Higher Treatment Success Rates

Finally, the integrated approach that is common to dual-diagnosis treatment simply works more effectively and yields higher success rates. By addressing both mental health and substance use disorders at the same time, this method leads to more consistent recovery outcomes, better mental well-being, and an overall higher quality of life.

Caron’s Approach to Dual-Diagnosis

At Caron, our approach to dual diagnosis is patient-centered and customized. While providing integrated treatment plans for people with co-occurring disorders is the norm for everyone we treat, our experts and coordinated care teams are able to take an individualized approach. Every person who walks through our doors gets the treatment that’s right for them, not just the treatment that’s right for their co-morbidities.

We combine evidence-based and proven treatment methods with innovative processes that address addiction and mental illness’s social, biological, psychological and emotional roots. Our care is grounded in data, hope and compassion. We also provide tools of self-care, self-advocacy, self-awareness, and connection.

Key elements of dual-diagnosis treatment at Caron include:

How To Get Started With Caron Treatment Centers

If you’re ready to take back your life, we are a simple phone call away. Our Admissions Specialists are trained to answer all your questions and guide you through the process. Once you’ve finished the screening and assessment, you’ll be scheduled for an admission appointment. From there, you’ll complete the admissions process on-site (for either inpatient or outpatient).

Get the support you need to become your healthiest, happiest self. Reach out to Caron today.